Instructors/Lessons
The Seattle Swing Dance Club would like to take a moment here and thank the instructors who have helped our members with their dancing. The following are the biographies of the instructors who have taught classes at SSDC pre-dance workshops last year and who we anticipate will be teaching this year. The instructors were invited to submit a bio and contact information. The biographies hat have been received are posted in alphabetical order.
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Michelle Badion has been teaching partner dancing, full time in the
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Charles England has been teaching dance since 1985, and has been an instructor and judge for the Seattle Swing Dance Club for more than 15 years. Charles also teaches ballroom, swing and salsa classes through the Edmonds Park Department and at the Bellevue Club. He can be reached directly at (206) 353-5187.
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Nancy Heaverlo Nancy Heaverlo is a GSDTA certified instructor and NDDCB judge and chief judge. She is a well known competitor teacher and judge on the national WCS circuit and is one of the top female competitors from the
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Gary Jobst & Csilla Madocsai
Gary’s passion for dancing began in the Country Western arena in 1989. He competed in the couples division as well as on the 3-time World UCWDC Champion Midnight Cowboys Dance Team. Finally caught by the Swing dance fever,
Csilla started artistic gymnastic when she was 3 years old in
Csilla & Gary formed a partnership in 2004. At their first competition, they took 4th place in Classic Division, and at the 2004 US Open they placed 5th in Showcase. In 2005, they ranked 4th in the nation!
They have taken a break from competition to focus on their son Brandon who is almost on year old but are looking forward to returning to the competition floor in the not too distant future.
Gary & Csilla are very excited about the change and are looking forward to purchasing a home for
You can learn more about Gary and Csilla, including their contact information, at their web site www.garyjobst.com/. Gary and Csilla will be coming to
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Jim Minty was been teaching dance for 20 years, the last 12 in the
Jim also supports the Northwest dance community by volunteering his time as the Seattle Easter Swing Event Director. SES is one of the top Swing Competition/Instructional weekends in the country (www.seattlewcswing.com)
Jim and Katie teach every Thursday at
Contact Jim at jim@nwdanceconnection.com or 425-822-25825. You can find out more about Jim on his web site www.nwdanceconnection.com.
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Jay Offutt’s energetic teaching style in Swing, Hustle, Salsa and Latin makes it fun and easy to learn to dance. His studio, the Dance Experience is located in Shoreline. For more info call 206-356-8812 or visit www.jays-dance-experience.com or email jayoffutt@w-link.net
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Lynn Offutt has been teaching dance for over 20 years, and is the sole proprietor of the Dance Workshop, located in Shoreline, Wa. Although she has been teaching West Coast Swing most of her adult life, she also carries both National and International certification in 17 other dances.
Mary Ann Nunez is one of the most sought-after instructors of West Coast Swing in the nation. Ms. Nunez is a two-time first place winner in the Showcase Division of the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championship; she has numerous first place wins in Jack & Jill competitions (including five first place wins at the GPSDC Convention). If you check her name in the World Swing Dance Council register you will notice that she has one of the highest number of accumulated points of anyone in the register. Her television appearances include Dance Fever, and In The Swing. She is an inductee into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame and she is a three time winner of the Feather Award (for the most outstanding female dancer in the
Ms. Nunez will be visiting
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Shannon Knauss had eight years of Ballet & Disco before finding her passion for partner dancing. Eight years of Swing, Ballroom & Latin training before starting her own company, Dance Experts, in 1992. Achieved “Highly Commended” full teaching and judges certification in 26 dances with The Terpsichorean Society and The National Dance Council of America. She is experienced in American and International Ballroom, Rhythm, Standard, Latin & Swing Dances. She has 20 years of full-time teaching in
